Diminutive Nikolai Borschevsky, who was given the nickname "Stick" due to his skinny frame, was a mainstay with Moscow Dynamo for over six years after having come up through the junior ranks of the organization. He then played several years with Moscow Krylja Sovetov and was a member of the 1992 Team United club that won gold at the 1992 Winter Olympics where he netted seven goals in eight games.

NHL scouts took notice of Borschevsky, and realized he had the talent to play in the NHL. The only question was whether or not he could withstand the rigors of a long NHL season. The Toronto Maple Leafs selected him in the fourth round, 77th overall in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the Leafs that fall and in 78 games responded with 34 goals and 74 points. He was with the Leafs for 45 games the following year, missing much of the season due to injuries. It seemed the banging and crashing style of the NHL was not particularly to Borschevsky's liking, being a small player of no more than 175 pounds, and even most doubted he was that big.

In April, 1995 he was traded to the Calgary Flames but lasted just eight games. In September of that year he signed a free-agent contract with the Dallas Stars where he dressed for 12 games before ending his NHL career. From there he moved to Germany and played out the year in Kolner before returning to Russia where he played the final two years of his career with Moscow Spartak.

The highlight of Borschevsky's NHL career came during the 1993 playoffs when he scored the overtime winning goal for the Maple Leafs that ousted the heavily-favoured Detroit Red Wings from the playoffs.